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Degree Not Required

Today there are numerous good-paying jobs without degrees that applicants can obtain without finishing college or high school.

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  • Highest-Paying Careers
  • Jobs in Demand
  • Degree Not Required
  • Leadership Careers

    • Farm Labor Contractors

    Recruit and hire seasonal or temporary agricultural laborers. May transport, house, and provide meals for workers.

    • Median Salary:$49,330
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Actors

    Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.

    • Median Salary:Not available
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Athletes and Sports Competitors

    Compete in athletic events.

    • Median Salary:$94,270
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

    Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.

    • Median Salary:$27,270
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Fast Food and Counter Workers

    Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

    • Median Salary:$27,930
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Baristas

    Prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.

    • Median Salary:$27,930
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

    Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

    • Median Salary:$29,960
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

    Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

    • Median Salary:$35,890
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Tree Trimmers and Pruners

    Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.

    • Median Salary:$47,080
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school

    Amusement and Recreation Attendants

    Perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. May schedule use of recreation facilities, maintain and provide equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, or operate amusement concessions and rides.

    • Median Salary:$27,780
    • Most Common Education:Less than high school